Diving vessel.



No. 700,769. Patented May 27, I902.

T H HAZARD DIVING VESSEL.

{Application filed Dec. 28, 1901.)

(No Model.)

IN EA/T01? THOMAS HARVEY HAZARD W/ TNESSES mi: ncmul mus ca. mcro-Lrmon wuumawm n. cy

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS H. HAZARD, OF VANCOUVER, CANADA.

DIVING VESSEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 700,769, dated May 27, 1902. Application filcd December 28, 1901. Serial No- 87,609. (No model.)

To ztZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS HARVEY HAZ- ARD, a citizen of the Dominion of Canada, residing at Vancouver, in' the Province of British Columbia, Canada, have invented a new and useful Diving Vessel, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved diving vessel which is designed to be sunk while suspended from above the surface of the water and while below will receive its supply of air by means of pumps from above in the usual manner. It is intended to be made of glass or similar transparent material and has within itself the means for moving it about within reasonable limits and of grappling and attaching lines or chains to sunken wrecks, 85c.

My drawings herewith illustrate the construction of and means for operating my device, Figure 1 being a vertical section; Fig. 2, a horizontal cross-section of the vessel, showing an alternative method of construction; and Fig. 3, a detail of the screw-joint of the upper cap-piece.

The body of my vessel is of hollow ovoid form, constructed of toughened glass or similar material in two main parts 2 and 3, screwed together at a horizontal joint 4 toward the upper end. The upper portion 2 thus forms a cap or cover, affording a means of entrance and exit, and to the upper end of 2 is securely attached the suspending-eye 5 and adjacent to it the air supply and exhaust pipes 6 and 7. These latter have exterior pipe connections extending to the surface of the water, and the air-supply pipe 6 is further furnished within the vessel with a distributing-pipe 6. The lower end. is protected outside with a shield 3 of lead, secured to the shell by bolts, and is inside provided with the sinking-weight or ballast 10 and a floor 11, on which the diver stands to operate the necessary mechanism.

Passing through the shell of the vessel in a suitable gland-packed bearing 12- at a convenient height for the operator is the propeller-shaft13, having attached to it outside the propeller 1a and inside a heavy wheel 15, having a handle 16. By this means a sufficient measure of mobility may be obtained for the ordinary requirements of such a device, and

to direct the movement I provide the rudder 20, hinged to a bracket 21 suitably secured to the skin ofthe vessel. Movement is communicated to this rudder by means of the bevel-gears 18, keyed on the stem of the rudder and on a shaft 21 at right angles to it, which shaft. passes through the gland-packed bearing 22 to the interior of the vessel. On the inner end of this shaft is keyed a lever 23, by means of which the diver can operate the lever and direct the motion of his vessel while he moves it about by the propeller.

Through gland-packedbearings 25 in the wall of the vessel pass one or more stems 26, each being slidable axiallyin its bearing and rotatable in the same by means of a crosshandle 27, while at the exterior end it is provided with a collar 27 and a screwed portion 27 to receive a suitable grappling device.

By this means, after the'grapple has been manipulated by means of the stem and crosshandle until a secure hold is obtained, the 'stem may be unscrewed from the grapple.

It may be found necessary if there is diffi culty in manufacturing the body 3 of the vessel of one piece in glass to have it made in -segments,as shown in Fig. 2. In all cases where metal parts are attached to or would bear against the glass a sufficient thickness of non-conducting elastic packing is to be used, as 29 in Fig. 3. This will prevent any sudden changes of temperature endangering the safety'of'the vessel and allow variations of expansion to occur without undue straining.

Having now particularly described my device and the manner of the operation of its various parts, I declare that what I claim as new, and desire to be protected in by Letters Patent of the United States of America, is

1. Adiving vessel constructed in hollow ovoid form of a transparent material in two mainparts which form a-continuance of the general shape; a metallic joint-ring suitably connected to each part and having a screwed connection one within the other; a slinging eye attached to the center of the upper end; means for conveying air to within the vessel and for allowing the same to escape; a floor 'on the interior of the lower end; a propellershaft rotatable in a suitable gland-packed bearing in the wall of the vessel, such shaft having exterior to the vessel a propeller secured to it, and within, a means for rotating the shaft; a shield to protect the lower end; and a ballast-weight whereby the vessel may be submerged While suspended from above water.

2. In a diving vessel in hollow ovoid form, made of transparent material in two main parts, said parts uniting to form a symmetrical shape, the plane of division being horizontal and at right angles to the length of the device; ametallic joint-ring suitably connected to each part and adapted to screw one into i the other; said device being susceptible of being submerged while suspended from above the surface of the water; and having means for a limited mobility below water; arudder pivotally movable in bearings in a bracket attached to the shell of the vessel; a shaft to actuate such rudder from the interior of the vessel; bevelwheels rotatably connecting such shaft with the pivot or pintle of the rudder; and means within the vessel of actuating such shaft and turning the rudder as desired.

3. In a diving vessel of hollow ovoid form constructed of suitable transparent material in two main parts having a screwed junction toward the upper end; the lower part being constructed of meridial segments of the transparent material secured together by joint frames; the interposition of an elastic non conducting material wherever the transparent material of the shell is joined to the metal of the frames or attachments; an exterior shield to the lower end; means whereby the vessel may be suspended during submersion; and means whereby it may be moved about and directed within a limited area.

4. A diving vessel, comprising a hollow body of transparent material, formed of two sections detachably joined, a propelling and steering mechanism therefor, and means for operating said mechanism, located within the hollow body, substantially as shown and for the purposes described.

5. A diving vessel, comprising a body having a hollow ovoid form, adapted, when in its normal position, to hang with its axis in a vertical position, said body including a detachably-held upper end, having means for connecting with the suspending cord or cable, and an air supply and exhaust pipe members attached to the said detachably-held up- 7 per end, for the purposes specified.

6. A diving vessel, comprising a hollow body, consisting of a bottom part having a floor or stand,an upper part detachably joined to the bottom part, by means of a metallic joint-ring suitably attached to each part and having threaded portions adapted to be received one into the other; a lead-shield for the lower end of said body; air supply and exhausting devices connected with the upper part, a driving and steering means at one side operable from within the body, and a grapple-engaging means at the other side including devices located within the body for setting said grapple-engaging means to connect with or be disconnected from the grapple, as set forth.

7. A diving vessel, constructed in hollow ovoid form of transparent material, adapted to be suspended from a support above the water, with its axis normally in a vertical posi-' tion, said body being formed in two parts, an upper and a lower, the lower being the larger, and the line of separation taking place on a plane at right angles to the axis; a propeller and rudder mechanism, centrally located at one side of said body, one above the other; and grappling means centrally located at the opposite side, and means for manually operating said devices, as set forth.

THOMAS H. HAZARD.

\Vitnesses:

ROWLAND BRITTAIN,

ELLICE WEBBER. 

